In this Q&A Video Dave Wright & Dan Wright discuss considerations for coaches when preparing and organising match day for young players. The question this week comes from Simon via Twitter: “What is your advice on how to organise match...
Are learning and performance different? In this article, Nick Soderstrom discusses how teachers or coaches can enhance performance by stretching individuals and discusses the key differences between the two. You’re teaching a concept in class, working through examples and explaining...
What motivates young people to play sport? Why do some players like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Yannick Bolasie play the way they do? In this Masterclass Discussion, Dan Wright sits down with PDP Lead Researcher James Vaughan to discuss some of...
Context Matters: Revisiting the First Step of the “Sequence of Prevention” of Sports Injuries Caroline Bolling, Willem van Michelen, H. Roeline Pasman, Evert Verhagen The Big Idea This research literature review paper was published in the journal Sports Medicine in...
The question this week comes from an anonymous grassroots coach: He asks, “Should I recruit stronger players?” Additional Resources Ebook: Coaching Fundamentals: Six Steps to Creating Quality Youth Soccer Training Sessions Your Players Will Love. Talent ID & Youth...
When it comes to learning, development or performance, what is ‘The Zone’? In this article, motivational researcher and rugby coach, Jonny McMurtry shares some ideas as to how we can help athletes get into the zone. Driven by my on-going...
Coaching Fundamentals: Six Steps to Creating Quality Training Sessions Your Players Will Love
Download Now FREECoaching youth sport is complex, challenging and rewarding. In this Masterclass Discussion we speak to Founder of Changing the Game Project and youth coaching expert, John O’Sullivan. PDP Editor, Dave Wright hosts John for an in depth discussion which dives...
The question this week comes from Lisa via Facebook Lisa asks, “What do you discuss with the players after the session?” Additional Resources Ebook: Coaching Fundamentals: Six Steps to Creating Quality Youth Soccer Training Sessions Your Players Will Love....
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
The question this week comes from Percy. Percy asks, “At what age do we coach defending?” Additional Resources Ebook: Coaching Fundamentals: Six Steps to Creating Quality Youth Soccer Training Sessions Your Players Will Love. Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Each...
In this Masterclass Discussion, Dr. Craig Harrison is hosted by PDP Editor, Dave Wright for a wide ranging conversation on youth development, skill acquisition and the importance of play in the learning process for children. Craig and Dave cover a...
In this Masterclass Discussion, Dave Wright and Dan Wright sit down for a two hour discussion with world leading Sports Psychologist, Dan Abrahams. Dave and Dan facilitate an in depth conversation with Dan on his experience in sports psychology across...
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Natalia Balague, Rafel Pol, Carlota Torrents, Angel Ric, and Robert Hristovski The Big Idea This is an opinion paper. The opinions herein revolve around how the components of complex systems self-organize. In particular, the authors propose a more streamlined approach...
In this Masterclass, we share a replay of our live and interactive webinar with UEFA A licensed academy coaches Dave Wright and Dan Wright. Dan and Dave discuss practice design in the final third, considerations when planning your session and...
The question this week comes from Joe via Facebook: “Is it OK for a young player to commit a professional foul?” Additional Resources Ebook: Coaching Fundamentals: Six Steps to Creating Quality Youth Soccer Training Sessions Your Players Will Love....
In this video session plan, UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright shares a practice designed to help defenders keep a high line and encourage the attacking side to exploit the space. With a strong focus on passing and receiving for the attacking team and communication and balance for the defenders, this practice is an effective way to improve your teams understanding of pitch geography out of possession and get your attackers working on movement in behind into space.
In this Masterclass Discussion, FA National Women’s Coach Developer, Amy Price shares her unique approach to player development with Dave Wright & Dan Wright in a highly engaging conversation. Amy shares research on how coaches can use the principles of...
In this PDP Live Session, FFA Coach Developer & Academy Coach, Anthony Frost demonstrates a whole-part-whole practice which focusses on 1v1 finishing against the goalkeeper.
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Football is a game of speed, whether it’s quick thinking, or quick movement. PDP Editor & UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright & Brentford FC first team analyst, Zaheer Shah examine some clips and stats from the 2018 World Cup, sharing...
The question this week comes from Paul via email; Paul asks, “Should possession practices be directional?” Additional Resources Ebook: Coaching Fundamentals: Six Steps to Creating Quality Youth Soccer Training Sessions Your Players Will Love. PDP Session Plan Library Your...
To set the scene for the following discussion on socio-cultural constraints, we start with Ruben Jongkind’s comments made during May 2016’s NextGen Talks. Ruben is the former Head of Talent Development at Ajax Amsterdam, and after working with Johan Cruyff...
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright is joined by Head of Specialist Coaching & Lead In Possession Coach at The FA, Aaron Danks. PDP Technical Advisor, Dan Wright also joins the discussion for a fascinating conversation on youth...
Paul McGuinness was immersed in the world of Manchester United as a player and coach for 28 years.Paul learnt his craft from his father Wilf, a Manchester United Manager and was mentored by the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Tony Whelan and more. PDP Editor Dave Wright sits down with Paul to discuss his personal journey, sharing incredible stories of the culture and ...
This question comes from Tom, via the PDP Facebook Page: “Does repetition aid development?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Each week, we will choose a key question from our community for discussion. In order to build a broad range of answers...
Hakon Grøttland is the Head of Player Development for the Norwegian FA. The Player Development Project were lucky enough to have an inside look at how Norway develops young players and how this is influenced by the nation’s culture. Hakon...
The art of observation. What details should coaches be looking for? Todd Beane explains why it is important for a coach to ‘observe’ their players rather than just ‘watch’ them. Are you watching or observing your players? Many consider these two words...
In the last issue of PDP magazine we featured part one of our exclusive interview with Dan Micciche, covering his early coaching career at Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur through to his position as Assistant Academy Manager at MK Dons,...
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor, Dave Wright is joined by Strength & Conditioning Coach, Matt Depledge.Matt has spent the last four years working for a Premier League Academy in England and is now working in the world of youth development in Tennis.Matt gives us a brilliant insight into his own experience and offers his advice as to how coache...
In our latest live session UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright shares a practice which focusses on switching play.Dave demonstrates how to progress the practice from a lead in to a small sided game using key task constraints to encourage players to use width and focus on dispersal. Dave talks you through some of his own observations and discusses how you can set the session up to suit the age and ability of your players.
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Brisbane The question this week comes from John via Facebook. I always focus on the process over results, but I am wondering if I should change my approach to help my girls win a final? Additional Resources Ebook: Coaching Fundamentals:...
What does learning look like and how do we know it’s taking place? In this article Cognitive Psychologist, Nick Soderstrom discusses various practice approaches and some considerations for those who are leading learning environments. Let’s face it: We want things to...
How can you make your environment as positive as possible? In this Masterclass Discussion, Positive Psychology expert, Lara Mossman joins PDP Editor, Dave Wright for an in-depth discussion on positive psychology in coaching. Lara is one of Player Development Project’s...
Jack Martin and David Cox The Big Idea It is rare in conventional social psychological research on sport to consider public testimony as a source of truths. And yet, this is exactly what this study does. These authors pursue what...
The question this week comes from Steve via Twitter. “We are planning for next season and wondering whether coaches should stay with their team through the age groups, or is there a benefit in a new coach each season?” Additional...
In this Masterclass Discussion, PDP Editor Dave Wright is joined by Head of Specialist Coaching & Lead In Possession Coach at The FA, Aaron Danks. PDP Technical Advisor, Dan Wright also joins the discussion for a fascinating conversation on youth...
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